Can someone clarify who this person or family is? Also I thought is season 1 episode 2 Jackie said that he was "Acting boss" while his old man was a guest to the government. So who is the real boss?

I'm not sure how you spell his first name but it sounds like Ecklio DeMeo. And they say hes doing a life sentence somewhere. I assume he became boss after Johnny Soprano retired.

Ercoli (Eckley) was the oldest of the Soprano brothers. Uncle Junior was next, and then came Tony's father, John.

The originator of the Family was Domenico Ercoli DiMeo.

Is that the same DiMeo who is doing a life sentence? He must be very old. Maybe thats why he has no say in his family's business.

That is correct.

But, old man DiMeo is referred to as Ercoli "Eckley" Dimeo in episode 4/1 "Meadowlands". I can't recall ever hearing the name Dominico DiMeo mentioned in the series, but I have read it on several websites.

BTW, "Eckley" means "Disgusting" in Swedish Not the same spelling, but still.

what season and episode does it all talk about Di Meo and his story?

this is all season one...and im glad someone brought this up, because i have a question. in the first season, that family is known as the dimeo family...but afterwords they start calling it the soprano family, and stop making mention of dimeo who's in prison. so when in fact did they chance the family name?

As far as I know, the family is technically still the DiMeo family. Im not sure how long Jackie Aprile had been boss, but if it hadnt been for a long time, or if he just didnt want the family name to be his, then they mightve still been regularly calling it the DiMeo family at the beginning of the series.

As far as the family now being known as the Soprano family, I would assume this is simply because a Soprano has been a boss for so long now.

You probably can't pick out one defining moment where the name was changed, its more of a gradual thing, happens over time.

Ive always wondered whether or not they might suddenly bring this DiMeo guy out of prison on a technicality or something and have Tony try to remain in control, but hes probably so ancient.

Ive been waiting for them to maybe kill him off or something, just to wrap that loose end up, but no mention of him for a while now it seems.

Also, the New York bosses are regularly dealing with Tony and Junior as if they were the boss now, not just acting for someone else, and they usually transfer leadership once a boss gets a life sentence anyway, so I would assume that Tony/Junior are the real bosses.

but which episode was it again that they say all this stuff about Ercoli Di Meo?

not sure

I rewatch the seasons a lot so if I come across it Ill put it up here

In the first season, I think, junior says something like " it's time the Sopranos got a shot." To tell you the truth though, I don't remember DiMeo except as the name of the guys in Massachusettes that Sil and Chris asked to hit Johnny Sack. Is that correct?

No they were the DiMaggio's Im pretty sure, named so because one of them baseball-batted a guy to death.

Maybe DeMeo had to step down, like John Gotti had to in 1996 when his last appeal was rejected and the commission ( of the other 4 families) decided he had to retire as official boss.
Or he could have stepped down himself voluntarily like Tony 'Ducks' Corallo, the former Lucchese boss, when he got sentenced for life without a chance to get out early.

Or it could be he is demented or something like that. At least he doesnt seem to give any orders and conrtol the family.
On the FBi-charts in season 1, 2 and 3 Junior is called the official boss with Tony as his underboss (and street boss) since season 2.

What exactly is a "Street Boss," and where does it lie in the chain of commandment?

Street boss is the highest ranking member that isn't in jail.

In some families a committee (of several high-ranking members) serves as street boss when the actual boss is in jail. Like the Genovese-family for the last years.

Just to clear up some things...

The longtime boss of the North Jersey mob was Ercoli "Eckley" DiMeo. During his tenure as boss, some of the men who were his capos were Johnny Boy Soprano, Junior Soprano, Jackie Aprile Sr, and Raymond Curto (I'm not sure who the captains of the Altieri and Barese crews were back then).

Johnny Boy died of cancer and his old crew was taken over by his son Tony Soprano.

DiMeo was sent to prison for life. Jackie Aprile Sr became the acting boss of the DiMeo Family. During Jackie's reign, his capos were Tony, Junior, Raymond Curto, Jimmy Altieri, and Larry Barese. DiMeo grew old and senile in prison, and Jackie was the REAL boss, even though he still held the "acting" title.

Jackie, as we all know, eventually died of intestinal cancer. Junior became boss, with Tony really pulling the strings. Junior got indicted by the FBI, and Tony became boss in name as well as fact.

Any idea how long before the show started Jackie had been made boss?

How long has DiMeo been in prison is basically what I'm asking.

So Dom Cirillo is Street Boss of the Genovese Family, while Vincent Gigante is in prison?

Well right now Mario Gigante is the street boss. It is said that Cirillo was street boss the last couple of years (before he was arrested last spring). But recent sources say he was part of a committee of 4 that ran the family. And Cirillo was Messagrio, that means the one that speaks for V. Gigante and deliveres his messages.
there was a power-sharng situation, on the street at least, cause Vince Gigante still took the imporant desicions.

Exactly when the boss DiMeo went to prison has never been revealed on the show. The episode with the flashbacks (Season Three, Episode 10: "To Save Us All From Satan's Power") shows the year 1995. And in that year of 95, we see Pussy alive and well, Jackie alive and in command of the Family, and Tony with most of a head of hair!

So, to answer your question, Jackie Aprile Sr was acting boss of the DiMeo Family at LEAST from 1995 until his death in 1999. Most likely he was boss a lot sooner than 1995, but the exact date hasn't been revealed.

Why do they have different surnames?

Tony's brother Ercoli was NOT the same guy as the Family original boss. Tony's brother was somewhat (and somehow) retarded and institutionalized.

Not Tony's brother; he was Junior and Johnny Boy's brother. Tony never had a brother.

And yes, Ercoli Soprano is not the same guy who was boss of the North Jersey mob; that was Ercoli DiMeo.

Ooops.... my error.